Case filed against ex-CM Madhu Koda

A case was registered against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Friday by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged money laundering, diversion of state funds and making huge illegal investments abroad including purchase of mines as far as in Liberia.

A case was registered against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Friday by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged money laundering, diversion of state funds and making huge illegal investments abroad including purchase of mines as far as in Liberia.

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The 38-year-old Koda, who may face arrest also, is the first chief minister and high-profile politician to have been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act along with eight others including three of his cabinet colleagues.

The ED filed a Enforcement Case Information Report (equivalent to a FIR) before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Ranchi against Koda, his cabinet colleagues Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey besides five others.

According to the ECIR, Koda is alleged to have purchased mines in Liberia worth USD 17 lakh (Rs 8.5 crore) besides making other 'benami' purchases in the name of his close confidant Binod Sinha, once a tractor mechanic.

As per the ECIR, the properties in the name of Sinha runs into several hundred crores of rupees.

One time close associate of RSS, Koda shot to fame after he clinched a political coupe with Congress' support by becoming chief minister of the mineral rich state in 2006 as an independent MLA, the third politician in the country to achieve this feat.